The Washington critic., 1887-02-08
A Strong Statement Of the Senat0's
Position in the Premises.
THE PRESIDENT CRITICISED.
why the Nomination was Made and
why Rejected.

comprise tnc formal resolution OIL tnC
Senate rejecting the nomination, upon
which the vote stood 81 to H. as fol-
lows;
YEAs-Allsou, Blackburn. Bowen, Chase,
Coke, tongcr, Cullom, Dawes, Edmnnds'
gals, Jones Of Nevada, Mcmillan, Malone,
Morgan, Palmer Plumb, Pugh, Ransom,
saulsbuWry' Il ,SSawyor; sIeWell, Sherinaa spoohor'
Nshce MilRRT MisRn HTown Si ,oWan' Ga cockre
ColQuitt, Farwcll, Gibson, Hampton, Harris,
Jones uf Arkansas, MCPHERSON, Mitchell OF
Oregon, Payne, Vest, Waithall Whltthornc-
IL.
Messrs. Berry. Butler, Camden,
Cameron, Gray aud kenna have an.
nounced that they would have voted
In the negative had they been present
and not paired, aud Messrs Mander
SOP, Miller, Stanford and Teller have
announced that they would have voted
In the affirmative.
A document, prepared by Senator
Ingalls, and offered in the form of a
resolution, was adopted by the Senate
yesterday and was sent with the rejec.
lion 10 the President. 1t gives the fol.
lowing statement OF the case:
THE CASE STATED.
James c. Matthews of New York was
nominated March ., 1856, to be Recorder OF
Deeds in the District of Columbia, in the
place of Frederick Douglass, resigned. This
domination was rejected by the Senate July
81, 1856.
Immediately after the adjournment of the
Senate, to wit, August o, 1856, the President
appointed James c. Matthews to the office
for which he had been rejected by the SEN
ate, and lie continued In the discharge OF Its
duties during the recess OF Congress.
On the 2lst day Of December, 1856 the
President again dominated James q. Mat
thews OF New York to be Recorder OF
Deeds In the District OF Columbia, in the
place of Frederick Douglass, resigned.
In his message to the Senate Of March l.,
1856, relative to papers on file and other ln-
formation touching suspensions from the
appointments to Office, the President, among
other things, said:
"Upon refusal to confirm, shall not
assume the right to ask the reasons for the
action of the Senate, nor question Its de-
termination. l cannot think that anything
more is required to secure worthy incum-
bents In public Office than careful and
independent discharge OF our respective
duties within their well-defined limits"
The nomination OF Matthews being ap.
parently not strictly In accord with these
VI tuC llIolitut, huu
the Only instance OF person rejected by
the Senate who has been reappolnted aud
again nominated for the same Office under
this administration, the President consid-
cred the event OF sufficient consequence to
accompany the transmission OF the nomi-
nation with statement In justification OF
bis action.
THE PRESIDENTS JUSTIFICATION.
He attempts to Justify the denomination
Of Matthews by stating
l. That the fitness of the nominee has
been demonstrated.
9. That the previous opposition to his APP
pointmeut among the citizens Of the Dis
trict has largely subsidized.
8. That he desires In this way to tender
just recognition aud good faith toward our
colored fellow citizens.
1t is sufficient answer to the first two rea-
sons alleged to say that neither could have
been applicable when Matthews was ap-
pointed in August, Immediately after the
adjournment OF the Senate, for at that time
his fitness had not been demonstrated, nor
had there been any interval for local oppo-
sition to subside.
Until suggested by the President, the
Senate was not aware that the question OF
''iust recognition or good faith to our col.
ored fellow. citizens was involved In the
question; and II has never before been urged
that a PERSONS nomination for an Office
should be confirmed or rejected because he
was black or because he was white.
THE RACE ISSUE DISCUSSED.
This classification has been abolished by
the suppression of the rebellion aud by thu
amendments of the Constitution, and is nj
longer properly to be recognized in deal
ing with public affairs. The Senate, how
ever, in view of the message OF the Presi
dent, cannot forbear to apprise him, sine,
he has raised the race Issue, that Frederlcl
Douglass was, 1t is understood, requested
| to resign the Office Of Recorder of Deeds II
the District Of Columbia In order tina
James c. Matthews might be appointed Il
the place. Without doubt Frederick Doug
lass is the most distinguished representa-
tive Of the colored race, not In this coun
try only, but in the world. "Just recog
nitionn would have been tenderod to ou
colored fellow-citizens by the retention o
Frederick Douglass, rather than by his en-
forced retirement In order to reward al
unknown and obscure partisan who hal
never been slave, and therefore repre-
sented the enfranchised race onl
by the accident OF color. TIL
devotion Of the President to tn
political and civil advancement of til
colored race might have been equally tested
and 'good faithn might have been a
strongly evinced, by the retention of Doug
lass In the Office, whose duties he was dl,
charging to the satisfaction Of the peopl,
unless 1t Is to be understood that stu.
recognition is to be rendered only to thos
members Of that race who are supposed t
entertain particular political opinions. /
such a case the issue Of race disappears, an
the test is politics.
The Senate has no official Information
other than that contained In the message
the President, whether Matthews is white 9
black. lie Is admitted to be a citizen {
New York. The office to which he Is nom
mated is strictly local. The compensate
for the performance OF Its duties Is not pal
by the Government, but mainly by either
OF tho District having papers to be recorde
therein.
| HOME RULE MAINTAINED.
His confirmation is opposed with sui
stantlal unauimity by the citizens OF III
District, without regard to color, politics, {
occupation.
The Just principles OF self-government, I
well as the declaration OF both politc
parties, Justify their desire that the duti,
OF the office Of the Recorder Of Deeds shoul
be performed by some resident OF the Di
trict acceptable to those whose property
to be affected by his acts, and who pay Il
entire expense OF its administration.
The vote upon the adoption OF tn
resolution stood go to IS, and the d
vision was upon strict party lines. I'll
injunction of secrecy was remove
upon motion Of Senator Rlddl
berger, which was carried by vote
| AZ 10 (ATnrnonA